Beach at the Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat

Active volcanoes, denserain forests, pristine beaches, and crashing surf -- when it comes totropical getaways, Costa Rica just might have it all. zzdtravel.com has been all over the world, and time and time again we find ourselvesreturning to this special place, in part because we can’t get enough of itsrustic-chic hotels.

What is rustic chic, youask? Well, it’s a lot of things, really. Rooms can range from cabins in themiddle of the jungle to beachside bungalows, but in each case, therustic-chic hotel both embraces and tames its habitat withpolish and style. The 10 hotels that made our list provide are a primer in the rustic-chic aesthetic done right, and prove that getting back to nature doesn’talways mean roughing it.

1. Tulemar Bungalows & Villas, Manuel Antonio

Plenty

of visitors beeline it from San Jose straight to Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast,

and hotels like Tulemar are a big part of the reason. Set on 33 acres of untouched

jungle, these luxury bungalows offer mod-influenced contemporary style

alongside a plethora of organic decor. Polished hardwood floors glisten, while

bold hues on the walls make all manner of rustic-chic furniture pop — the

tree-trunk headboards, travertine walls, and stone-tile living room floors are especially nice touches in the Casa las Nubes that

we visited. Design varies from bungalow to bungalow and villa to villa, but

with multiple pools and a pretty little beach, it doesn’t get much

better than this.

2. Nayara Hotel, Gardens & Spa, La Fortuna/Arenal

It’s a feat when a hotel

can make its guests feel pampered and swallowed by the jungle at the same time,

and Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens manages to pull off exactly that. Tucked

inside of Arenal Volcano National Park — and with views of the iconic peak

throughout — this hotel is equal parts luxury resort and back-to-nature retreat.

Want to be spoiled? There’s an open-air spa lined with stone and hardwood, hot

tubs set amid decks looking out into dense forest, pools, and a wine bar. Want

to take a deep breath and be one with the jungle? Simply look in any direction or meet up with the resident bird watcher. The villas,

suites, and casitas here are a stylish blend of all things natural and modern

— bamboo ceilings, hardwood floors, jute throw rugs, outdoor showers, and

walls that open to the jungle sit alongside modern luxuries like private hot

tubs, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks.

3. Florblanca Resort, Santa Teresa

We love the sheer volume

of boutique resorts on offer in Costa Rica, and properties like Florblanca draw visitors back to the country year after year. The 11 standalone

villas at this beachfront resort in Santa Teresa incorporate hand-crafted

details and design-conscious furniture to create an intimate and laid-back

escape. Expect to see stone and brick floors set with chairs and tables hewn

from reclaimed tree branches; exposed ceiling beams; and wall-hangings inspired

by natural forms, like beehives. Locally made items like hand-woven hammocks are

strung on lovely patios, upping the sustainability quotient, and the free

surfboards and yoga classes next to the ocean keep civilization feeling far,

far away.

4. Lapa Rios Ecolodge & Wildlife Reserve, Osa Peninsula

No phones, no Internet,

no TVs — Lapa Rios Ecolodge takes rustic to the extreme. To be honest, it

actually takes rustic to an upscale, eco-conscious extreme, and those willing

to make the trek to Costa Rica’s remote Osa Peninsula will reap the chic

rewards.

Set on a 1,000-acre wildlife reserve, the bungalows are a treat. Romantic,

if entirely utilitarian, mosquito netting cascades around the beds underneath

towering thatched ceilings while gorgeous polished hardwood floors are

underfoot — this is rustic done right. Small details, like clothing hangers crafted

from tree branches, are part of what boost this hotel’s rustic-chic credentials. But don’t expect the experience to be truly roughing it. Bathrooms have

contemporary fixtures like vessel sinks and walk-in showers, and the hotel’s

sparkling pool offers views of the coast in the distance. Tranquility like this

doesn’t come cheap, though — Lapa Rios is one of the most expensive hotels on

this list.

5. Makanda By The Sea, Manuel Antonio

No, Makanda By The Sea

isn’t right on the beach — in fact, it’s a 10-minute walk to the nearest

stretch of sand in Manuel Antonio — but the trade-off comes in the form of some

seriously swish digs that utilize natural materials in sharp, modern ways. Design elements vary from room to room, but can include volcanic stone

walls, country-style wooden dining tables with artsy carvings, and outdoor

infinity pools that look right into the dense jungle. The abundance of

neutral tones throughout the hotel help it blend unobtrusively into its

surroundings, while contemporary accents like geometric pendant lighting and

Pollock-inspired murals keep the look fresh.

6. Nayara Springs, La Fortuna/Arenal

It would be unfair to mention

this hotel’s older sister — Nayara Hotel, Garden & Spa — without giving

its adult-only, boutique sibling a nod as well. In fact, Nayara Springs manages

to out-luxe Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, with its massive 1,500-square-foot

rooms that include features like Bluetooth music players and espresso machines.

This 16-unit hotel balances intimacy and romance with a slightly more colorful

palette than its neighbor and sister hotel (though it does lack the Nayara

Hotel’s Arenal Volcano views).

Each of the bungalows

feels secluded from the next, and rooms can include strikingly patterned

hardwood floors, canopy beds, massive marble bathrooms, paddle fans spinning

from bamboo ceilings, and colorful hammocks swinging over sleek wooden decks

with private pools. With live Costa Rican musicians playing in the bar during the week, a

resident bird-watcher (that’s shared with the Nayara Hotel), and Middle Eastern

cuisine on-site, there’s little reason to ever make the 15-minute drive into La

Fortuna, the nearest town.

7. Pranamar Villas and Yoga Retreat, Santa Teresa

The dirt road leading to

Pranamar is rustic. The undeveloped nearby beach is rustic. It’s a bonanza of

rustic at this Santa Teresa area retreat with a special emphasis on health and

wellness. The property’s 10 villas are made from local wood and bamboo and their

decor draws heavily on Balinese design — from the bed frames to the artful wall

carvings. Units like the Oceanfront Villa that we visited have slatted walls

that offer peeks of the surrounding greenery alongside wooden floors, a blend

of rough-hewn and sleek furniture, and light neutral fabrics. With one of the

best yoga studios in the area and features like a swish outdoor pool, this

hotel is a fine way to unplug or get back in touch with a part of yourself you

just might have forgotten.

8. Gaia Hotel And Reserve, Manuel Antonio

Let’s make one thing

clear: The region around Manuel Antonio National Park is in no way a secret

escape, but the abundant wildlife, gorgeous beaches, and undisturbed jungle

draw tourists in droves for a reason — it’s a small slice of paradise. Gaia

Hotel And Reserve is one of the most high-end choices in the region. There

are vistas across the green hills and excellent jungle views at almost every

turn — plus, a multi-level pool that cascades down along the hillside into

which the hotel’s built.

Rooms are on the polished

end of the rustic-chic spectrum, and the look is smart and minimalist. Fine

wood floors are set with stylish wicker furniture, while leaning standalone

mirrors add a bit of boho sophistication. White linens on everything from the

beds to the chairs add a breezy quality, and framed landscape art

provides a final elegant touch. Don’t expect to be cut off from modern life at

this hotel, though, as each room has a premium sound system, modern

electronics, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi.

9. Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas, Tamarindo

A five-minute drive from

the busy little coastal town of Tamarindo, Cala Luna offers one of this list’s more

contemporary twists on rustic chic. Styled after Sardinian

guesthouses on the Mediterranean coast, there’s a beachy vibe throughout this

hotel. The lobby is a breezy exercise in the use of natural materials and it’s

impossible to ignore the sculptural masses of driftwood that serve as handsome

coffee tables, or the comfy armchairs with tree-branch backs, or the towering

pillars fashioned from tree trunks. Handsome woven art pieces and bright

textiles give the interiors their modern edge.

10. Tree House Lodge, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

One of the more

distinctive properties on this list, the name of the Tree House Lodge says it all. The fact is that not

every unit here is a tree house, but there’s an ecological consciousness that

defines the sharp architecture throughout the grounds. The most striking of the

individual units available is actually the Beach House, which sits just over

250 feet from the ocean and was constructed using fallen Nispero trees from the

surrounding forests. The Beach House’s bathroom is crafted from adobe and stone,

with accents like carved-block sinks and rainfall showers. The living spaces are

almost entirely clad in hardwood, from tables and chairs to the spiral

staircase that leads to the master bedroom

Related Links:

Best Boutique Hotels in Costa RicaThe Most Beautiful Views in Costa Rica 8 Gorgeous Rustic-Luxe Beach Escapes